The South Metro Junior Football League (SMJFL) is closely examining and monitoring the ongoing situation with Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in relation to the SMJFL.
The SMJFL’s main priority is the safety and wellbeing of all members of the league. The league will take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of its clubs and their members under all circumstances.
The league is continuing to liaise with the relevant government health agencies and the AFL. The SMJFL will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates to stakeholders as they arise.
News Articles/Memos
22 January – SMJFL locks in 2021 season
12 February – League Update
25 May – Additional COVID-Safe measures
27 May – Seven-day lockdown
2 June – League Update
2021
2020
Trusted resources
These resources can be downloaded and printed to be displayed around club facilities, distributed to club patrons, or posted on social media. These resources will be available on the SMJFL website.
Club templates
Attendance Registers
To assist clubs in taking attendance at training the following options are available to clubs:
COVID Safety Officer
As per the requirement that a club’s appoint a COVID Safety Officer, the league as created the COVID Safety Officer (CVSO) Handbook (updated 26 June) which includes a position description for the COVID Safety Officer. Please note that this is a working document. As such please forward any feedback to Dom on business@smjfl.com.au
Insurance Cover Under AFL Community National Risk Protection Program & COVID-19
Please note the below is not to be construed as legal advice. If legal advice is required, Leagues/Clubs should engage their own independent legal representative.
Public Liability insurance and COVID-19
Understandably, community football members and volunteers are concerned about insurance cover for legal liability potentially arising in relation to dealing with the risks and consequences of COVID-19. However the reality is their insurance cover under the AFL Community Public Liability policy for COVID-19 events is currently the same as the insurance cover for legal liability for any other event in connection with their community football roles and/or operations that is not specifically excluded from coverage.
In general terms, so long as the clubs, members and volunteers are acting within the scope of their duties/operations, are acting reasonably and not willfully, maliciously, criminally etc., then the public liability policy, subject to its other terms and conditions, should extend to provide insurance cover to the club, member or volunteer for any resulting legal liability. However, determination of cover for a particular claim can only be made once the precise allegations and circumstances are known to the insurer.
In addition, it should be noted that where a claim is made against a club, member and/or volunteer, in circumstances where the club, member and/or volunteer have acted reasonably to prevent injury (including taking all reasonable steps in complying with the advice, recommendations and/or protocols of Governments and other statutory bodies), they will have a strong defense to the claim. Please see the attached flyer from the AFL’s Insurance Broker, Marsh for further details on the insurance cover and preventative action in relation to COVID-19.
Personal Accident insurance and COVID-19
The Personal Accident cover that players and volunteers have the benefit of under the Collective Insurance Program does not provide, and never has provided, any cover for sickness or illness and this includes COVID-19. Players and volunteers may have access to benefits or reimbursement of medical expenses for illness (including COVID-19) events through Medicare, Private Health, Life insurance (generally provided through a superannuation fund) and/or Ambulance membership.
Further questions
Should any Community football body or member have any concerns or questions in relation to coverage under the AFL Community National Risk Protection Program, they are strongly recommended to contact the Marsh Sport team direct on 1300 130 373 or via sport@marsh.com
